A: The Broncos hope to get production at tight end that’s close to what Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski have provided the Patriots, who selected Gronkowski in the second round and Hernandez in the fourth round of the 2010 draft. The Patriots use Gronkowski and Hernandez at several spots in the formation, including Hernandez playing running back. They are top-tier receivers who can overwhelm defensive backs with their size and even run past linebackers and safeties.

In two games against the Broncos last season, Gronkowski and Hernandez unraveled their defensive game plan. In the first meeting, at Denver, Gronkowski caught four passes for 53 yards. Hernandez had nine receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown. In the second meeting, a playoff game at New England, Hernandez was the Patriots’ leading rusher with 61 yards. He also had four catches for 55 yards and a touchdown. Gronkowski was dominant too, finishing with 10 receptions for 145 yards and three touchdowns.

That’s the type of impact the Broncos hope to have at tight end this year. They have signed three free-agent tight ends the last two years — Daniel Fells, Jacob Tamme and former Colorado State star Joel Dreessen — and acquired Julius Thomas and Virgil Green in the 2011 draft.

When he quarterbacked the Broncos, Tim Tebow was reluctant to use receivers in the middle of the field — the area between the hash marks. He rarely targeted tight ends moving through that section of the field, even if they were open. Over the last five games of the 2011 regular season, tight ends were targeted by Tebow a total of nine times. Tight ends had only six receptions in those five games. In the Broncos’ two playoff games, tight ends were targeted only four times and had just two catches.

Look for the Broncos’ tight ends to be more involved in the passing game now that Peyton Manning is the quarterback.

Tamme (236 pounds) and Dreessen (245) aren’t considered dominant blockers, but they usually are fundamentally sound when asked to do the job.

Dreessen had 26, 36 and 28 receptions his last three seasons. He scored a career-high six touchdowns last year with the Texans.

Tamme and Manning were teammates with the Colts. Playing for the injured Dallas Clark in 2010, Tamme had 67 catches for 631 yards and four touchdowns.

The Broncos likely will play a lot of two-tight end formations this year because they have Dreessen and Tamme. And because most of their opponents in the AFC West play a 3-4 defense.

CenturyLink, the telecommunications company that ended its sponsorship agreement with Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall because of his protests during the national anthem last year, said it will not terminate its agreement with current client Emmanuel Sanders.